Queer Screen Goes To Cannes

14 Apr Queer Screen Goes To Cannes

Queer Screen Goes to Cannes in 2023

It has been announced that Queer Screen will be part of the Goes To Cannes initiative at the Marché du Film which runs in conjunction with the 76th edition of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Each year the Marché du Film offers five renowned festivals the chance to showcase their selection of original work-in-progress titles looking for sales agents, distributors or festival selection.

Queer Screen is the first ever LGBTQIA+ and Australian film festival involved in the Goes To Cannes program.

Queer Screen’s festival director, Lisa Rose, said the invitation is an enormous honour and a testament to the organisation’s international standing. “We are thrilled about being chosen,” she said. “To be the first ever Australian and the first ever LGBTQIA+ film festival involved is something we are very proud of and I can’t wait to champion these films.”

Please see the selection of works we’ll be taking with us below.

You can also read all about it at Variety here.

In The Room Where He Waits

When his life falls apart, a young queer theatre actor, poised to play the lead in The Glass Menagerie, must reckon with his demons and fight for survival while trapped in a hotel room with a sinister presence.

Director: Timothy Despina Marshall
Producers: Bec Dakin, Timothy Despina Marshall
Production Companies: B&T Films, Orange Entertainment Co.

This work received $8,000 from the Queer Screen Completion Fund in 2021.

“Tim is a Mardi Gras Film Festival alumni. Three of his films have been finalists in our My Queer Career short film competition, with Gorilla winning the 2013 Iris Prize, the largest in the world for LGBTQIA+ shorts.” – Lisa Rose, Festival Director

Follow the filmmakers on Instagram here:

The Queen of My Dreams

Azra, a queer Pakistani woman living in Toronto, is at odds with her conservative Muslim mother. The sudden death of her father in Pakistan sends Azra on a Bollywood-inspired journey through memories real and imagined, from her mother’s youth in Karachi to her own coming-of-age in rural Canada.

Director: Fawzia Mirza
Producers: Andria Wilson Mirza, Fawzia Mirza, Jason Levangie, Marc Tetreault
Production Companies: Baby Daal Productions & Shut Up & Colour Pictures

“Fawzia [Director] was a guest at our most recent festival in February and I knew she was toiling away in post while she was here, so I jumped at the chance to offer her this opportunity, as we don’t see enough queer Muslim stories on screen.” – Lisa Rose, Festival Director

Follow the filmmakers on Instagram here:

Sunflower

A seventeen-year-old boy struggles to understand and embrace his sexuality as he comes of age in the working class suburbs on Melbourne’s edge.

Director: Gabriele Carrubba
Producers: Gabriel Carrubba, Zane Borg
Production Company: Pancake Originals

“Earlier this year we gave Sunflower $15,000 from our completion fund. It’s the most we have ever awarded for a single project. To give emerging talent like Gabriel this opportunity on the global stage is very exciting.” – Lisa Rose, Festival Director

Follow the filmmakers on Instagram here:

Triple Oh!

A dark comedy-drama following the lives of two ambulance paramedics, as they save lives in absurd medical emergencies. Their personalities clash and are tested when street-smart Tayls (Brooke Satchwell) introduces by-the-book Cate to her unconventional policy of having sex when a patient dies.

Director: Poppy Stockell
Writer: Erica Harrison
Producers: Poppy Stockell, Alexandra Galloway, Tamasin Simpkin
Production Company: Sirius Pictures

“It’s funny and sexy. I loved it when I saw it, and it’s so great to see director Poppy Stockell seamlessly deliver compelling narrative work after a much awarded factual career.” – Lisa Rose, Festival Director

Follow the filmmaker on Instagram here: @poppystockell

One Person Protest

An observational undercover documentary following 73-year-old human rights activist Peter Tatchell’s daring mission to protest at the 2018 FIFA World Cup to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ injustice in Russia and Chechnya.

Director: Christopher Amos
Producer: Christopher Amos
Production Company: Chrysaor

“I’m so pleased to continue to support Chris and his showcasing of Peter’s vital activism.” – Lisa Rose, Festival Director